Horn switch/relay

[tghurst0]

Hey folks. Trying to get my 1985 4x4 mini past inspection. Horn hasn't worked since I got the truck a year ago, except at about 1/4 turn left and 1/2 turn right. This evening I pulled the steering wheel, and found that the spring-loaded horn post doesn't touch the brass contact plate on the back of the wheel except at those two places. Is there some way I can adjust the horn post, contact plate, or something else? Otherwise, replace contact plate, horn post, some other part in that vicinity?

thanks!

 

[missouriman]

horn post.

it should not look like a nail or just a thin bar.

the (head of the nail) post is fairly long.
I can't find the picture I had of one.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Sometimes stretching out the spring a little will give you a bit more life. But it's time for a new contact really...

 

[pappy]

Replace the contact. About $6.50 from Toyota.

 

[tghurst0]

Replace the contact even when it seems like the spring is what is short? Or is it that the contact has worn down enough so the spring isn't touching the contact throughout a full revolution of the wheel?

 

[x factor]

I just fixed mine with a thin piece of cardboard. Take the ring off the back of the steering wheel and use it for a template. The scews that hold the ring are long enough for thin box cardboard.

I'm a cheap bastard.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Yes, the contact has worn down. The fat section on the end should be 1/4+/- long when they are new, but they wear down to 1/8-1/16 and they stop making contact...

Or you could do the cardboard thing...